Flooding: Goronyo Dam is safe, FG assures

Abdulfatai Abdulsalami Sokoto

As part of efforts to curtail any unforseen circumstances, the federal government of Nigeria has assured residents of Goronyo and it’s environment of the safety and stability of Goronyo Dam.
The Federal Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Utsev, gave the assurance on Tuesday when he led members of his technical committee to the Dam site in Keta, Goronyo local government area of the state.
The Minister who is the chairman of newly Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on evaluation of Dams in Nigeria, by President Bola Tinubu, following the flooding incident that affects part of Maiduguri, Borno State.
“Other members of the committee include Ministers of Environment, Housing, Works, Budget and National Panning, Information and National Orientation as well as Finance.
Represented by Mrs Oluwatosin Abiola, the Deputy Director of Dams and Reservoir in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources said the purpose of the visit was to evaluate and make recommendations to the federal government in order to ensure the Dams serves their purpose.
“Following the directive of the Minister who mandated the Team B, of the sub technical committee to inspect and evaluate the Dam.
“We are here in Goronyo Dam to evaluate the Dam and from what we have seen after going round to see the facilities, we are very much convinced that this Dam is safe and stable”
The Goronyo Dam, located in Keta community area of the town is about 942 million cubic meters, spanning over 12.5kms length.
“There is no cause for alarm about Goronyo Dam as everything here is working in accordance with the laid down provisions and procedures, the Dam is safe and stable..
“The slow protection of the main Dam is very much okay, the gates are working well and the slow protection of the sandy Dam is also working well and very much in tact.
“The report of our findings is going to help in combating the challenges facing Dam”s structure in Nigeria” she affirmed.